Completing my short hike from Mission Espada, I arrived at the back gates of a mission that seemed much better restored. Perhaps it was just much less damaged. In either event, I also noticed there were significantly more tourists present.
Similar to the previous stop, I noticed a walled complex with a large open area at its centre. I wondered what it must have looked like when it was at its peak. Surely it was filled with people. Some were likely speaking local native dialects. One might hear a little French, but I assume mostly Spanish. Bustling activity and trade likely from all around. When allowed, it takes little for the imagination to try to paint a picture for you.
Mission San Juan holds a significant place in the history of San Antonio, Texas. Its story begins in 1716, when it was first established as Misión San José de los Nazonis in East Texas to serve the Nazonis Indians. However, due to its unsuccessful attempts at conversion and external pressures from French forces in the region, the mission was abandoned in 1719, but restored in 1721.  In 1730, the Mission was re-opened in Austin, but in 1731 it found its permanent home on the east bank of the San Antonio River.
The mission’s early years in San Antonio were marked by construction and growth. By 1756, a stone church, a friary, and a granary were completed. These structures were central to the mission’s purpose of converting indigenous people to Christianity and integrating them into Spanish society. A larger church was also started but remained unfinished due to a decline in the local population, which was a common issue among missions during this period.
Seeing the chapel, it was clear that there were many similarities to that at Mission Espada. The three bells over the entrance, the long, narrow interior, and the colorful alter all gave a sense of familiarity from one mission to the next.
Despite these challenges, Mission San Juan became a self-sustaining community. The indigenous people who lived within its walls learned trades and crafts, producing iron tools, cloth, and hides. The mission lands outside the compound were just as productive; orchards and gardens yielded melons, peaches, pumpkins, while fields grew maize, beans, squash, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane. The mission also managed a ranch called Rancho de Pataguilla located over 20 miles away, which reported thousands of sheep and cattle by 1762.
By the mid-1700s, Mission San Juan had become an essential supplier of agricultural products for the region. It supported not only its own community but also nearby settlements and military garrisons. Its strategic location along El Camino Real de los Tejas—a historic trade route—enhanced its role as a regional economic hub.
Today, Mission San Juan stands as a testament to Texas’ complex history. It is part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
